Distributing mechanism



Feb. 11, 1941. F. H. METZGER DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1957 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNI-TED STATES PATENT orrice 2,231,633 DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM of New York Application May 19, 1937, Serial No. 143,457

2 Claims.

This invention relatesto a distributing or sorting mechanism, and more particularly to a device adapted to assist in distributing or sorting cards, sales tickets, papers, correspondence, etc preparatory to filing of such members.

' In general the device comprises a movable carriage having supported thereon a plurality of leaves hinged on horiaontal axes extending transversely of the carriage, so that these leaves may swing about their axes and be supported by mem bers, at the ends ofthe carriage in inclined overlapping relation. It will, of course, be understood that owing to the spaced position of the lower portions of the leaves in the carriage, the upper edges of each leaf will be exposed so that indicia thereon may be visible to the user.

The user may by grasping any particular leaf, raise this leaf, together with all those in front or behind it, as the occasion may be, so as to slip a member to be filed, such as a card, sales slip or letter, between such leaf and the next adjacent one.

One object of the invention is the provision in a distributor of the character described of means for hingedly supporting a plurality of leaves such that the leaves may be supported, not only for pivotal movement, but also for longitudinal movement with relation to the base or support, whereby additional leaves may be readily inserted between leaves already mounted in the support without the necessity of removing all of the leaves from the support.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel leaf member for a distributor of the character described.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a distributing device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the detachable leaves, together with the hinge base or support for the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. .2.

The distributing mechanism comprises a tray l9 which may have secured upon the bottom portion thereof a strip of rubber or similar friction material 20, so that the tray will cling to a support upon which it is placed. The tray I9 is provided with a false bottom 2| having upstanding sides provided with in-turned flanges 23 which form guideways with the bottom portion 2|. It will be understood that these are parallel longitudinally extending guideways formed at opposite sides of the tray and facing each other.

These guideways form means for retaining the hinged leaves upon the tray, as will now be explained.

The leaves themselves are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and consist of a thin resilient plate or leaf of sheet metal 24, the lower part of the sheet being wrappedor folded over a rod whose projecting ends form hinge pintles 25 and 26. These hinge pintles are adapted to be inserted in perforations in upstanding members 21 and 28 formed at each end ofa connecting strip 29. The strip 29 and side members '21 and 28, which, as shown in Fig. 3, are of channel shape in horizontal cross section, form a hinge support or base for the leaf, the side members 21 and 28 being slidably mounted in the ways formed at each side of the false bottom 2| of the tray or support l9.

It will be noted that the pintle 25 is shorter than the pintle 26, and the upstanding channelshaped members 21 and 28 may be sprung outwardly sumciently to permit the detaching of the short end 25 from the member 21, so as to remove the leaf from the hinge support or base member 29, if desired. In this case the hinge support or base member, comprising the strip 29 and side members 21 and 28, may be used in the device as spacers to space apart two adjacent leaves, if desired. When no spacing between adjacent leaves is desired, the members may be arranged as shown in Fig. 1, in which case the end members 2'! and 28 of the leaves abut each other in the channels or ways in which they are slidably mounted.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the structure of the leaf itself employed with my device is novel, and of considerable importance. As stated, the leaf 24 is made entirely of thin sheet metal, as distinguished from prior leaves, which are usually made of fiber or similar material. As shown more particularly in Fig. 4, the label or tab holding portion of the leaf is constructed by displacing the body of the leaf to one side, as shown at the point 36, then bending the leaf upon itself, as shown at 31, to provide at the upper end a relatively wide pocket 38 to receive the index tab or label. The end of the leaf is then carried downwardly, as shown at 39, and welded to the other ply 40. Between the plies 39 and 40, prior to the welding operation, is inserted a similar strip .or sheet of metal 4|, which projects up into the space 38 and forms a support for the index tab 42, which may be doubled over the element 4!.

At the upperend the metal of the leaf is cut away between the outer portions 43 and 44, so as to leave an opening or window at both sides of the leaf through which the indicia upon the index tab or label 42 may be seen. It will be apparent, therefore, that if this indicia is placed upon both sides of the label 42, it may be seen from both sides, and at the same time the label is reinforced and held firmly and rigidly in position by the reinforcing strip 4| located between the doubled ends and 39 of the sheet 24. The label or tab 42 may be protected by a cover of transparent material 42a.

It will be apparent that the distributor shown herein is capable of a wide variety of uses, and moreover is designed to give long and efficient service. The construction of the leaves themselves is such that they may be made from sheet metal, and at the same time provide for securing in place the label or index tab, so that indicia on both sides is visible. These metal leaves are much superior to those made of fiber. Moreover, the manner in which the leaves are slidably supported in the tray so that they may be placed and held in compact relation, but at the same time may be moved apart in order that one or more may be removed from the tray, renders the device a very flexible one in use.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

' 1. A leaf for a distributing device comprising a thin flexible strip of sheet metal of constant width throughout the length thereof, the material of said leaf having a transversely elongated opening adjacent its upper end between its side edges and being folded upon itself on a line intermediate the upper and lower edges of the opening, and the free end of said folded portion being secured by welding to the body of said leaf below said opening to provide a label-holding pocket open at the ends and having an opening in each face, and a strip of thin sheet metal having its lower edge secured between the folded portions of the leaf and projecting upwardly at its upper edge to a point spaced from the fold line to support from below a label inserted in the pocket, and said second-named strip of metal lying within the same plane throughout its length.

2. A leaf for a distributing device comprising a thin flexible strip of sheet metal the upper portion of which is offset laterally from its lower portion, said strip being folded upon itself above said offset to provide a label-holding pocket at its upper edge and having a cut-out recess at its upper edge and extending downwardly on both sides thereof between the edges of the strip whereby the pocket has an opening in each face, the upper edge of the strip being brought downwardly and secured to the body thereof at a point adjacent the offset by welding, and a second strip of material secured between the welded portions of the first strip and extending upwardly into the pocket to support from below a label inserted into the pocket, said second strip also being of thin sheet metal and extending vertically upwardly from its point of securement to lie in the same plane throughout its length.

FRANK H. METZGER: 

